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31 Beautifully Tiled Fireplaces

By

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

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and

Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger is a personality assessment expert based in Kansas City, Missouri, with more than five years of experience. Her areas of expertise include Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. She is the author of the book "Being Whole" and dozens of articles on personality assessments and relationships.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/09/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

A fireplace is supposed to be an attractive focal point, but if yours is grabbing attention for all the wrong reasons, consider giving it a face-lift with beautiful tile. There are plenty of stylish options available that will transform a sad fire surround into a feature you will adore. Are you game? These 31 ideas will inspire you to create a hearthside worthy of cozying up to year-round.

15 Fireplace Design Ideas for Room Warming Style

Metlakh tile is a universal tool for making the most daring fantasies come true in design

Metlakh tile is not just a universal ceramic finish, it is a scattering of geometric ornaments and various patterns in a variety of color schemes. The covering can be made up of small tiles, like a mosaic fresco, of large tiles of unusual shapes, and also represented by a combination of both. This cladding harmoniously fits into the interior, made in any style. The restraint of minimalism will be emphasized by tiles in contrasting colors with strict geometry, the practicality of hi-tech - straight lines and squares in the pattern, the pomposity of the Baroque - ornate ornaments and deep colors, the sophistication of the Renaissance - its characteristic chess styling. Regardless of the style, metlakh tiles are special. It does not cool the soul, it is akin to Persian carpets - it gives an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and indicates the refinement of the taste of the owner of the house. It is difficult to decide what is more in metlakh tiles: practicality or aesthetics. nine0003

Metlakh tiles in the interior of the entrance hall of the Serednikovo estate, Russia. 18th century

The history of the metlach tiles

In 1809, the hereditary potter Jean-Francois Boch buys the secularized Benedictine abbey in the town of Mettlach on the Saar and equips it with an ultra-modern ceramics workshop for its time. Soon he transforms the craft workshop into an industrial factory due to the rapid development of technical equipment, revolutionary technologies and production automation. To operate the machines, he uses the hydraulic energy of the strong current of the river flowing into the Saar. A major role in the modernization was played by the training in physics and chemistry, which Boch took in Paris. He himself invents and designs machines, for example, a press machine with automatic portioning of raw materials. Jean-Francois pursues the goal of complete mechanization of production to reduce the cost of ceramics and release them in serial batches. nine0003

Seized by the industrial revolution and losing the competition to English ceramics in the field of decor, Jean-Francois Boch invites his competitor Nicolas Villeroy to join forces. Thus, a tandem of a talented production technician and a skilled trader is formed. The birth of the Villeroy & Boch brand dates back to April 14, 1836. The main strategy for the functioning and development of the factory is to produce high-quality, but cheap products.

In 1846, Eugène Boch, son and successor of Jean-Francois Boch, became interested in Roman mosaics. In an attempt to repeat it at the factory, the production of a new type of facing ceramic tile begins. And in 1866, the construction of a new production facility was launched. This is a completely new type of factory, designed specifically for a new production: extremely durable multi-color tiles. The products make a splash and become a new word in cladding, gaining fame all over the world and getting the name "metlakh tiles". This is Eugène Boch's greatest achievement in his quest to replicate antique mosaic floors and make them accessible. nine0003

Dairy shop, Germany. Villeroy & Boch, 1891

Metlakh tiles cover different corners of the world. It adorns buildings that today are classified as historical monuments, such as the Cologne Cathedral and the Holland Tunnel in New York. And the most legendary creation of the factory is the elegant and luxurious finish of the decorative floors of the Titanic ocean liner.

Metlakh tiles (before restoration) from the decoration of the ocean liner Titanic. Villeroy & Boch, 1909-1912

The world in the patterns of metlakh tiles

Due to the extraordinary beauty, high strength and durability, the scope of metlakh tiles is very wide. It can be found in cozy home interiors, in public spaces, in the halls of luxurious palaces, in buildings of historical significance, on the streets of different cities of the world. Despite the beauty, the magnificence of colors and forms of decoration, the variety of ornaments, nevertheless, first of all, its popularity is due to its quality characteristics. nine0003

The integrity of the tile and the stability of its coating for many years to come, even under the influence of adverse conditions and in rooms with high traffic, is ensured by a high firing temperature (1200 0 C and above). Metlakh tiles have a high density (less than 0.3% residual porosity), which provides them with a long service life and reliable protection against mechanical damage, scratch resistance (9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale). An important indicator is the low level of tile slip (friction coefficient - R10, R11). It is also resistant to acids, moisture, temperature extremes, and is ideally combined with a floor heating system. nine0003

A significant advantage of Metlakh tile is that it is universal, it is used in the house and on the street, for facing the floor, walls, columns and even ceilings and arches. Its fascinating ornaments can be found in the interiors of residential buildings, at railway stations, in hotel lobbies, in the corridors of hospitals and schools, in swimming pools, restaurants, in buildings of historical significance, in the design of gazebos, paths in the garden, terraces and verandas.

Floor tiling of country house veranda with metlakh tiles

Villeroy & Boch Museum of Ceramics

The Museum of Ceramics in Mettlach was created from the private collection of Eugène Boch in the 19th century. The collection is constantly expanding. To date, the museum has more than 30,000 ceramics, of which only a part can be presented in the permanent exhibition. Almost 1,000 objects illustrate the 260-year history of metlakh ceramic dishes and tiles.

Hall of the Villeroy & Boch Ceramics Museum, Mettlach, Germany

The Ceramics Museum as it exists today was reopened in 2002 after a renovation. Villeroy & Boch has invested a lot of money in the reconstruction and equipping of the museum. The exhibition boasts a modern concept and special lighting that captures all the finer details of the fine tableware and amazing patterns of Metlakh tiles. The exhibits of the exhibition range from the simplest ceramic products to the creations of famous designers. The main exhibition and complementary temporary exhibitions allow you to trace the development of the art of ceramics and technologies for its production over the years. nine0003

Tiles for stoves and fireplaces

layingrepair tile design Articles

Contents

Frosty gloomy day... And so you want warmth and comfort in the house. Especially if it is a private house or cottage. A small fireplace or stove will fit perfectly into the interior of any home. However, this is more of a decorative element than a means for permanent heating of the room. Most often, a fireplace is used to quickly warm up a room that has not been heated for a long time. nine0003

The fireplace owes its rapid heating of the room to radiant energy. It is the fireplace that creates an atmosphere of comfort and coziness in the house. Rest by the fireplace has a beneficial effect on the moral state of a person, allows you to truly relax and unwind.

The best option for finishing a home stove or fireplace

It is important to finish the fireplace correctly so that aesthetic principles are respected and technology is not violated. It is especially important to take into account the specifics of the operation of the fireplace - the finishing material must withstand high temperatures. nine0003

Pay attention to clinker tiles for fireplaces and stoves. This is perhaps the best option for cladding. Clinker tiles are natural clay tiles that are fired in a special way. It is thanks to firing that such a tile is resistant to high temperatures. It is quite durable, and also not able to absorb moisture. Well, the environmental friendliness of clinker tiles plays an important role in its technical characteristics.

A wide range of colors and sizes allows you to choose tiles for stoves of any size and for every taste. As for the shades of clinker tiles, sand-colored tiles are the most popular. Also, many manufacturers produce entire collections of semi-antique tiles - in such cases, the material is specially aged for hand molding. nine0003

In addition to clinker, there are two more types of tiles: terracotta and majolica. Terracotta tile has a highly porous structure, it has a fairly high strength. It is best used for facing furnaces in the bath. As for majolica, it is in some way an improved terracotta. Majolica is used for lining fireplaces and stoves in saunas.

Purchase of tiles for stoves or fireplaces

In the age of high technology, it is a sin not to use the Internet. It is enough just to enter the phrase “buy tiles for stoves and fireplaces” in a search engine. After that, the search engine will provide you with more than a thousand offers. You can slowly read the characteristics of a particular tile, compare prices in various online stores. nine0003

If you do not like this option, then you should contact the hardware store. Experienced managers will surely help you with practical advice, and you will be able to choose what you want.

You can also go to the market. But it is unlikely that you will be able to find high-quality tiles with the appropriate certificates there. However, you, as a buyer, must decide for yourself which option is closer to you.

The cost of tiles for stoves and fireplaces in Moscow

Of course, the cost of tiles directly depends on the country of origin. Foreign samples are more expensive than domestic ones. On average, the price of tiles for stoves and fireplaces starts from 8-10 dollars per square meter. The upper limit of the cost is about 300 dollars per square meter. It all depends on the technical characteristics and degree of product quality. nine0003

Materials that are used directly for laying tiles for stoves and fireplaces

When laying tiles, of course, glue is indispensable. It should be a heat-resistant adhesive designed for interior use. Heat-resistant mastic "STANDART" is also suitable. This mastic is used for laying stoves, as well as for facing hot surfaces. It has a fairly high adhesion, as well as heat resistance. It must be applied with a spatula on a dry and clean surface. The hardening process lasts from three to twelve hours. nine0003

Cement based adhesive can be used. After all, it contains special elastic additives that are able to prevent the occurrence of shear stresses between tiles and bases under various variable loads. Perfect for laying tiles on the oven and universal tile adhesive. For example, "ATLASPLUS". This solution is water and frost resistant. It has increased adhesion, and it also does not contain asbestos fibers. Only heat-resistant adhesives are suitable for laying tiles, as they contain elastic materials that neutralize temperature deformations of the adhesive layer. nine0003

Carefully measure and consider what size of tile is right for your conditions. Bear in mind that larger tiles are easier to install, but if you have an irregularly shaped fireplace, it's best to choose a smaller size.

What is the average material consumption for laying tiles?

Material consumption varies significantly depending on the manufacturer and type of product. For example, the consumption of ATLASPLUS universal tile adhesive is 1.5-2 kg per square meter with a 1 mm layer of material. But the consumption of adhesive heat-resistant mastic Universal is 0.5-0.8 kg per 1 square meter. nine0003

The consumption of any material directly depends on the structure of the adhesive or heat-resistant mastic used, on the degree of evenness of the working surface. Even the choice of spatula plays an important role.

Fireplace tiling

So, let's start tiling the fireplace with special tiles. First you need to clean the entire surface of the fireplace from dust. If the fireplace has been previously painted, the paint must be removed. This can be done with a special metal brush.

When this operation is done, you can proceed to the "adjustment" of the tiles for laying. To do this, it must be cut, taking into account the necessary shapes and sizes. Before laying tiles, you need to mark the surface. For this, either a level or a plumb line is used. nine0003

Start laying tiles from the bottom row. To do this, you need to apply glue on a surface the size of 1-2 plates, and then carefully spread the glue evenly with a spatula. Then we press the tile to the glue. If necessary, you can slowly tap the tiles to the wall with a special hammer with a rubber nozzle.

After one row of tiles has been laid, check the laying plane with a spirit level. Remember one golden rule: the sooner you make such a check, the more chances you have to correct various shortcomings. To create the same gaps between tiles in a row and between rows, spacers must be used. nine0003

Once you have completed the task of laying the tiles, remove any remaining grout from the surface. After the glue has completely cured, you can grout the seams. For this, a special cement-based solution is used. And after grouting, you can (and even need to) clean the tile with a hard sponge. After the adhesive has completely polymerized, the seams can be treated with a dirt-repellent compound. Now your fireplace is ready to use!

Proper maintenance of stove and fireplace tiles

If you perform a one-time cleaning of the tiles after grouting, and then do regular cleaning, you will be able to preserve not only the aesthetic qualities of the tiles, but also the technical ones. It is enough just to follow a number of rules.

For example, immediately after laying, make sure to clean the surface of adhesive and grout residues immediately.


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